Local authority restricting bungalows on age basis

[SimplySteve]

I've considered that my local authority restricting bungalows to over 55s (regardless if they have any disabilities etc, age is the sole eligibility criteria) is ageism? Being restricted from one when we are both carrying serious disability is shocking, even have support from GP, social worker, medical specialist nurse. We fall numerous times a week in current property too. This is discriminatory surely?

Ah yes the old be grateful schtick No doubt if a Grenfell resident had posted on here with their concerns about the cladding pre fire 2K19 would have told them to be thankful too

It seems insane to me that age is the only criteria. I think you need to get legal advice and appeal this. Citizens advice might be a place to start.

Have been bidding around 16 months I think.

the problem with a gff is you dont know who the HA is going to put in the flat above you. We currently have a violent druggie living in the flat below us. If it was the other way around and he was above us i would be worrying about him leaving the bath running.

I know living in a gff isnt ideal I live in one myself and the neighbours above are awful hence why I would like a house but its council so you get what your given! we would all like “better” op isnt moving because of noise so its irrelevant.

There must be some
properties thats have come up that dont have steps etc in 16 months??

I think it is discriminatory! I am also wheelchair bound at a young age, I can see how some gff would be unsuitable. Just the incredibly heavy entrance doors would be a nightmare in a wheelchair!

I would contact your local mp. It is wrong that an able bodied 55 year old is entitled to a bungalow when two severely disabled younger people are not considered due to age. If it’s not disability discrimination then it is at least age discrimination! Properties should be given out to those in most need!

Lots of gff have there own front door, mine does. Its no different from a house door.

@whatsthepointthen....why ‘must’ there have been? Flats here are often in blocks with communal steps in the front. It’s really not so unbelievable that there aren’t any suitable which makes the blanket ruling all the more ludicrous.

If there had been suitable gff we would have bidded. The one we came top on was restrictive due to steps (any idea how ridiculous it is for a blind person pushing a wheelchair and navigating steps is?), and distance from car to door. That's without the weight of entrance doors indeed.

As for standalone flats with their own doors, good luck with that in our area, the flats offered are 95%+ communal, with steps and distance to door.

I find it hard
to believe that ALL the flats in a whole area only have steps, if thats the case then op should considering move further out and can try for a mutual exchange.

No, I don’t think it’s discrimination.

I'd really like to know why those saying it's not discriminatory have this view that an able bodied 55+ person is entitled to a bungalow but a disabled under 55 is not.

@whatsthepointthen Get the train to my area and I will give you a tour of the local area. Mutual exchange? Good luck with that.

Sorry for this drip feed, not intentional, one of our requirements is a wet room/LAS, these are generally only present in gffs and..... bungalows...

Oh and another point with gffs In a lot of places now they wont allow disabled ppl to keep a mobility scooter in a communal hallway but a lot of scooters wont fit through a flat doorway.

Stay on the lookout for a gff that meets your needs, then. There are so few bungalows about. I don’t understand why you’re so set against a flat - I know you mentioned earlier that the majority wouldn’t be suitable, but some may be.

If they can’t find something suitable then they should make something suitable. Say Providing a house but putting in a wet room and downstairs bedroom. Would it be possible to make changes to your current home? I would be inclined to ask for an occupational therapist to make a report of what you jointly need and why you need it. Apologies if this has already been done!

I understand where you are coming from OP.
My DB and his wife, both fairly disabled, were looking to downsize last year.
They looked at many gff but it soon became obvious that none of these would be suitable for the reasons you give.
They were all on lovely plots, in gorgeous buildings but the distance from car parks to entrance was prohibitive.
They soon changed their search to bungalows for the reasons you outline.
They were fortunate as they were buyers not renters though.
Could you not involve your MP under the circumstances?
Some flexible thinking sounds like it's needed here.
Good luck with your search.

Going to be contacting MP yes I think.

@MrsAriadneOliver I've explained the lack of gffs that meet our needs, the prevalence of bungalows that do, and the problems with the flats offered. I also have explained we bid on a gff, came top, but couldn't accept - in fact the responsible authority removed the offer after evaluating us and then property on disability grounds due to steps and distance to door.

You might have a disability but the person getting the bungalow has a disability AND age related issues. They win

This is true in my local council as well. A fit and healthy over 55 wouldn't have a chance of getting a bungalow. It's those over 55s with significant disabilities who go to the top of the list.

If a gff came up that was suitable, would you accept it?

There has to be a cut off and restrictions - your council have decided its being over 55.
As PP have said , it isnt descriminatory and they can’t make an exception for you as then they would be discriminating against the next person under 55 who wanted a bungalow.
Bungalows are in short supply , even in the private market and I think that when you are relying on the local authority to house you then you s8mply cannot make demands about what you want - you simply have to accept what they will give you.
It can’t be every right GFF in your area will have steps up to it, long walks to door from car , heavy communal doors etc . I just feel that when you are not paying for it ( as in buying) then you have to accept what you are given. I’m sure there’s lots of people in your area who want a bungalow/bigger house/ garden etc but there simply isn’t the housing stock to give everybody what they want .
I own my house and would like another reception room but I can’t have one so I just have to be happy that I have a home and accept that we can’t always have everything that we want/need and we simply need to make the best of it.
Would the council not consider making steps into a ramp at a GFF ? If there were only a few steps I would be asking my local councillor to look into it for me. It’s your local councillors you need to be contacting - they are the ones who deal with local council issues rather than your MP .

• right every, not every right. I’m very tired but can’t sleep due to pain so sometimes I make mistakes!

In my area there are quite a number of bungalows for disabled people as well as the ones for over 55’s. The ones for disabled people are much bigger, having 2 bedrooms and sometimes 3 with larger rooms, extra wide doors and a wet room. Oh and modified kitchens too.

The ones for over 55’s are only one bedroom in the main and much smaller.

Are there none of those you could apply for? I would have thought the council or housing associations would have some in their housing stock.

I've already said we've bid on gffs @MrsAriadneOliver , and indeed were offered one, that was then removed on disability grounds.

Anyone that doesn't believe the amount of communal flats with steps and heavy doors/long distance from car to door is welcome to get the train to my area and I will show you all the flats.